Man, 97, Becomes ‘World’s Oldest Graduate’

An Australian great-grandfather claimed to be the world’s oldest graduate on Friday after being awarded a clinical science degree at age 97.

Allan Stewart, who took his first degree in 1936 and completed a law degree in 2006, said he kept going back to university “to keep mentally active.”

The Sydney-born former dentist told Australia’s AAP news agency that retirement was not about putting your feet up.

“People should never use the excuse that ‘I’m too old to study’ or ‘I’ve left my run too late,’“ he said. “It’s never too late to expand your mind, make new friends and challenge yourself to achieve something worthwhile.”

He said that mastering computers was the hardest part of getting back into studying.

“I was self-taught in that respect,” he said, noting that “all of the assignments I had to do on computer and send it up to the university by electronic submission.” – Sapa-dpa

What inspiration! Great grand dad you’ve given us serious food for thought. Materialism now reigns so much over us that the culture of reading is waning. I remember competing with friends over how many books one had read when I was young. Today it’s about how many movies one has seen! But thanks Mr Stewart for the challenge and encouragement – am registering for my next post graduate degree this June.

If o zambians thot like this man, this country would have been very very different! I’m greatly inspired! All pf cadres please, join the bandwagon, and enroll yoselves in these universities and colleges springing up everywhere…!

Chelsea

May 7, 2012 at 2:41 am

Big up old man,but where were u when u were 20yrs or so? u’re like the third servant who buried his talent coz very soon u’l bury ur degree, wasted education.

where r yu going to do yu industrial break,then you work for 1yrs and die.waste of tim and resources.what were r u doing at the age of 20.old man you r a disgrace on earth we learn to impliment change,we r taught to make an impact on earth and not weste the tim of our teachers.sham on you old man

I’ve been greatly inspired by this ka old man tho i think he did this purely for basic understanding, doubt if he can get employed at his age. But anyway, i though getting a degree at 36 was too old! So i can even do my masters, wow! Big up to you old man.

KATEZ

May 7, 2012 at 10:49 am

AT 97, WHO IS GOINGTOP BENEFIT FROM HIS KNOWLEDG. HE JUST WANTED TO MAKE A NAME

CSI

May 14, 2012 at 10:30 pm

he is way past the retirement age, i think he was just trying to make record